Automatic weighing and mixing apparatus.



No. 882,046. PATENTED OCT. 2, 1906. T. A. EDISON. AUTO-MATIG WEIGHINGAND MIXING APPARATUS;

APPLIOATION FILED JAN.9.1903.

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APPLICATION FILED JAH.9.1903.

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No. 832,046. PATENTBD OUT. 2, 1906. T. A. EDISON.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING AND MIXING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED J'AN.9.1903.

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Witnesses:

Inventor I W v omeys UNITED STA T ES PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING AND MIXING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2, 1906.

Application filed January 9, 1903- Serial No. 138,432.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Llewellyn Park, Orange, in the county of Essex and State ofNew Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improved AutomaticWVeighing and Mixing Apparatus, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to an improved automatic weighing and mixingapparatus designed particularly for weighing cement-rock and limestonein the proper proportions for producing Portland cement and in thenintimately mixing the two ingredients so as to reduce when ground achalk suitable for immediate burning.

My objects are to provide a simple and eflicient device for the purpose.

In order that the invention may be better understood, attention isdirected to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, and in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improved apparatus; Fig. 2, a side view, partly in section; and Fig. 3, adiagrammatic view showing one of the weighing-bins and the electricalconnections for controlling the roller-feed therefor.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by thesame numerals of reference.

1 1 re resent suitable uprights forming the frame 0 a proper buildingand having crossbeams 2, carrying floors, from which the ap paratus maybe operated and its workings observed. Mounted within the building arevertical uprights 3, carrying the several parts of the apparatus. Theapparatus consists, in the first place, of a large receiving-bin 4,having a central partition 5, dividing it into two parts, one forreceiving the limestone and the other for receiving the cement-rock.Leading into these two sections or receptacles are chutes 6 6, providedat the top with a flap-valve 7 in order that material can be di rectedinto either one of the compartments at will. A conveyer 8 leads from asuitable stock-house and supplies either cement-rock or limestone, asthe case may be, in succession to the apparatus. At the bottom of eachof the com artments of the receivingbin 4 is a rollereed 9 of commonform, by which the material may be removed from the same. Located belowthe bin 4 and receiving material from the roller-feeds 9 are twoseparate weighing-bins 10 10, one for receiving cement-rock and theother for receiving limestone. These weighing-bins 10 are mounted onscale-beams 11 of any suitable form and are counterbalanced by weights12. This weight is so adjusted as to be elevated when the desiredquantity of limestone or cement-rock is received by the correspondingweighing-bin, and the weight is adjustable, as in ordinary scales, sothat the proportion of limestone and cement-rock may be varied to suitthe changing chemical analyses. Each of the weighing-bins 10 is providedwith a discharge-roller 13 for removing material therefrom and directingit to a chute 14, leading to a stationary mixing-bin 15. At the bottomof the mixing-bin 15 is a dis charge-roller 16 for delivering materialto a conveyer 17, leading to a suitable small-rock stock-house orelsewhere. The roller-feeds 9 and discharge-rollers 16 are operated bymotors 18 and 19, respectively, of any suit-v able type; but preferablyelectric motors are employed. The motors 19 are provided with rheostatsor cut-out boxes, by means of which the speed of the motors may bevaried or the motors stopped at will. The motor 20 for operating each ofthe discharge-rollers 13 is connected to its respective roller through aflexible shaft 21, so that the weighing-bins will be permitted to moveindependently of the motors, as will be understood, and each of thesemotors 20 is provided with a rheostat or controller, by means of whichthe m0- tor may be stopped and started and its speed regulated.

Having reference to Fig. 3, it Will be noted that each of the motors 18is connected in series with a rheostat or starting-box 22, thecontact-arm of which is normally kept in a locked position to close thecircuit by the attraction of a magnet 23. This magnet is included in abattery-circuit 24 with a contact 25, carried on one of the scale-beams11 and dipping in a mercury-cup 26. The circuit 24 also includes asolenoid, coil 27, normally retracting a brake-lever 28, cooperatingwith a band-wheel 29 on the armature-shaft of each motor 18. A spring 30opposes the coil 27 to apply the brake when the circuit 24 is broken. Aspring 31 is connected with the contactarm 32 of the rheostat 22, sothat when the magnet 23 is deenergized the contact-arm will beautomatically moved to a cut-out position to stop the motor.

I11 operation cement-rock or limestone, as the case may be, is first fedby the conveyer 8 and deposited in the proper receptacle in thereceiving-bin 4, and when that receptacle is filled the other receptacleis furnished with the other ingredient. The receiving-bin 4 is of largecapacity,-so that at all times properseparate supplies of bothcement-rock and limestone will be contained therein. The chemicalcomposition of the cement-rock and limestone in the receiving-bin beingfirst ascertained, the Weighing mechanism for the bins is so adjustedthat the latter shall receive the proper amounts of these ingredients toconstitute the desired cement. Obviously the ingredients in questionvary very slightly in chemical composition, so that only slightadjustments of the weighing mechanism are necessary. When feed ofmaterial from the sections of the receiving-bin is to be effected, themotors 18, controlling the roller-feeds 9, are started by moving thecontact arm 32 of each rheostat to the starting position,said'contact-arm being locked in this position by the magnet 23, thecircuit of which is closed at the contact 26. The roller-feeds 9 beingoperated, material from the receivingbin is supplied to the twoweighing-bins, one receiving cement-rock and the other limestone. Whenthe desired quantity of material has been received inone of theweighingbins, the latter will be depressed, breaking the circuit 24 andpermitting the contactarm of the starting-box 22 to be returnedautomatically by the spring 31 to break the circuit to the motor 18 ofthe roller-feed for the weighing-bin in question. As soon as the circuit24 has been broken, the solenoid-coil 27 will be de'nergized and thebrake 28 will be applied, bringing the motor very quickly to rest. Whenasufiicient quantity of the other ingredient has been received in theother weighing-bin, these operations are repeated, the roller-feed 9therefor being automatically stopped, as explained. It will of course beunderstood that both of the weighing-bins are being supplied with thetwo ingredients atthe same time. The motors 20 for the discharge-rollers13 are now operated, and the material from the weighing-bins is fed outof the same in wide thin streams, passing into the hopper 14 and thenceinto the mixing-bin 15. In this operation a very perfect mixing From themixing-bin the material is fed by the discharge-roller 16, by which afurther mixing operation is secured, and deposited on the conveying-belt17, by which the mixture is conveyedto a suitable small-rockstock-house, from which it may be removed when desired for separating,grinding, burning, and the subsequent operations necessary. themanufacture of cement.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination with a bin andscale-beams for supporting the same, of a feed device for supplyingmaterial to the bin, an electric motor for operating the feed device, arheostat for controlling the motor, means for holding the rheostat-armin Working position, means for operating the rheostat to cut out themotor, a brake for the motor-armature, means for holding the brake freeand means separate from the said rheostat-operating means for applyingthe said brake, substantially as set forth.

2. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination with a bin andscale-beams for supporting the same, of a feed device for supplyingmaterial to the bin, an electric motor for operating the feed device, arheostat for controlling the motor and normally movable into a positionfor cutting out the motor, a brake for the motor-armature normallymovable into a braking position, separate means for holding saidrheostat and brake in position to permit the motor to operate the feeddevice, and means whereby the descent of the Weighing-beam releases thesaid holding means andthereby cuts out the motor and applies the brake,substantially as set forth.

3. In an automatic weighing apparatus, the combination With a binandscale-beams for supporting the same, of a feed device for supplyingmaterial to the bin, an electric motor for operating the feed device,arheostat for controlling the motor, means for operating the rheostat tocut out the motor, a brake for the motor-armature, means for applyingthe said brake, said means being separatefrom the saidrheostat-operating means, an electromagnet for holding the rheostat-armin a position to operate the motor, a second electromagnet for holdingthe brake clear of the armature, and connections whereby the descent'ofsaid weighing-bin opens the. circuit of said electromagnets .andtherebycuts outthe motor and applies the brake, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 18th day of December, 1902.

THOMAS A. EDISON.

Witnesses :v

FRANK L. DYER, JNo. RoBT. TAYLOR.

